(Glasgow) Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault on Saturday announced investments of $ 460 million over five years to protect and expand 22 national wildlife areas in Canada.
Mr. Guilbeault indicated that this funding will also allow the creation of 10 new national parks, four new marine freshwater conservation areas and 11 national marine saltwater conservation areas, while working to acquire the necessary land. to expand and complement existing national parks.
Currently, Canada has 47 national parks and 55 national wildlife areas.
“Canadians understand that to fight climate change, we must preserve nature,” said Mr. Guilbeault in a press release released on Saturday. We are building resilient ecosystems while fighting climate change. ”
PHOTO DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault delivered a speech at COP26 on Thursday.
The federal government had already announced that it was setting “ambitious targets” by aiming to protect 25% of its lands and oceans by 2025, and by taking the necessary means to reach 30% by 2030.
“Climate change is altering the water cycle, leading to floods, droughts and forest fires. They are causing a loss of biodiversity at an unprecedented rate: up to a million species are currently threatened with extinction, ”reads the ministry’s press release.
International aid
Visiting COP26, the conference on climate change organized by the United Nations taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Guilbeaut, who was appointed Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, less than three weeks ago , confirmed Canada’s international commitments on foreign aid.
At the last G7 Summit in June, the country pledged to provide 5.3 billion over five years to help finance the international fight against climate change.
We have a historic responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions. We have a responsibility towards developing countries.
Steven Guilbeault, Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
He said one-fifth of the aid disbursed will be dedicated “to nature-based solutions with associated biodiversity benefits in developing countries over the next five years.”
He said Canada’s new commitment to nature-based climate solutions in the poorest and most vulnerable countries is clear. “The dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss must be tackled together,” he said. The key to the fight against climate change lies in a carbon neutral future that respects nature. By working together, we can protect nature to ensure our collective survival. ”